SfC Home > Electro-Optics >

Explanation of the Basics of Electro-Optics - Succeed in Electro-Optics. Also refer to creation, control, propagation, detection, components, devices, systems, optical properties, electric field, electromagnetic spectrum, photographic film, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Basics of Electro-Optics

by Ron Kurtus (28 June 2006)

As in the Basics of Optics, electro-optics is concerned with the generation, control of propagation and detection of electromagnetic waves. The main difference is that electro-optics specializes in components, devices and systems which operate by modification of the optical properties of a material by an electric field. Typically, they are in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Questions you may have include:

• How is electro-optics used in the generation of light?
• How does it control the propagation of radiation?
• How is electro-optics used in the detection of light?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

Generation

Electro-optics is concerned with the generation of electromagnetic waves by the means of electrical fields. Certainly, radio and television waves and microwaves are created electronically, as are some lasers and masers.

But in the case of longer wavelengths, electro-optics is not concerned with the creation of the radiation as it is concerned with the propagation and detection. For example, infrared radiation is often generated by the heat of an object, but its detection usually requires electronic means.

Controlling propagation

There are electronic devices that can control the propagation of non-visible light, but they are not the mainstay of electro-optics. Usually exotic materials are used to direct and focus the various non-visible waveforms.

Detection

Detection is the heart of electro-optics. Photodetectors respond to electromagnetic radiation and electrically record its characteristics. The sensors in some photodetectors record a change in electrical resistance, while others create an electrical potential. Chemical detection of radiation, such as with photographic film is not usually considered part of electro-optics.

Electronic devices such as focal-plane arrays and charge-couple devices (CCD) are often used to detect and directly change the light into an electrical signal.

Summary

Electro-optics is concerned with components, devices and systems that use electrical fields to create, control of propagation and detect electromagnetic waves. Typically, the science focuses on the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Answers to Readers' Questions

Complex is not necessarily better

Resources

The following are resources on this topic.

Web sites

Electro-Optics Resources

Books

Top-rated books on Optics

Top-rated books on Electro-Optics

Miscellaneous

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. What type of electromagnetic radiation is not created electro-optically?

2. Why aren't glass lenses used in infrared systems?

3. Why isn't the use of photographic film consider part of electro-optics?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a champion in electro-optics. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

What do you think?

Do you have any questions, comments, or opinions on this subject? If so, send an email with your feedback. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

Share link

Feel free to establish a link from your website to pages in this site.

Or use our form to send this link to yourself or a friend.

Students and researchers

The Web address of this page is
www.school-for-champions.com/electro-optics/basics_electro-optics.htm. Please include it as a reference in your report, document, or thesis.

Where can you go from here?

School for Champions

Electro-Optics topics

Basics of Electro-Optics